Multiple-sheet detector for paper-feeding.



7 V V.GARNER. MULTIPLE SHEET DETECTOR FOR PAPER FEEDING} APPLICATIOH nu-:0 mm. 5, m4.

Patented June 8, 1915.

VERNON GARNER, F BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 UNITED PRINTING MACHINERY COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

MULTIPLE-SHEET DETECTOR FOR PAPER-FEEDING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 8,1915.

Original application filed November 16, 1912, Serial No. 731,862. Divided and this application filed March 5, 1914. Serial No. 822,637.

To all whom it may concern: 7 Be it knownthat I,'VERN0N GARNER, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Boston, in the county pf Sufl'olkand State .,5 of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Im, rovements in Multiple-Sheet Detectors for aper-Feeding, of which the following isa specification.

This invention relates to paper-feeding 10 machinery such as 'that used for feeding m paper sheets one by one to av printing press or other paper-handling machine, and is a division ofmy copending application filed November 16, 1912, Serial Number 731,862. The inventionis embodied in mechanism for arresting the travel of the sheets toward the printing press or other paper-handling machine when two-or more sheets are fed one'upon another. Of the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the invention: Figure lrepl'esents a side elevation of the sheet-detecting inechanism incotiperative' relation to paper-feeding'means. Fig. 2 represents a similar elev'ation', on a larger scale,-.of the essential. elements of the detector. 'Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2, showing the parts in sheetarresting position.

The same. reference characters indicate the same'parts wherever they occur;

Fig. -1 includes an endless bandlO which travels over rolls 11 and 12, in the direction -ii1dieated by an arrow, to carry the sheets t o'a printing press or other'machine. It

iscustomaryin paper-feeding machinery to arrange a plurality of such bands side by side upon'thjerolls'll and 12 which are as l'ong'as the width of the sheets. I

' The multiplesheet-detector is arranged 40 between t rolls l1 and 12 and acts when two-'or more sheets are'conveyed one upon another bythe bands 10, the detector being adapted. to stop such sheets as maybe disposed one upon another while traveling on the bands. An abutment for arresting the sheets is indicated at 15," and is aflixedto a rockshaft16. In practice, two or more of these 'abutments will be provided and will be arranged in alinement so as to act in unison.

YVhenlthe rockshaft is -turned, the abutments -aremove d to and from the path of the sheets betweenthe bands ll). A finger 17 affixed to therocksh-aftfis adapted to rest upon the upper end of a trip or releasing member 18.

This member is mounted upon a fulcrum 19,

and when engaged with the finger 17 as shown by Figs. 1 and 2 it supports the abutments 15 above the path of the sheets. A compression spring 20 is connected by suitable means with therockshaft for the purpose of throwing the abutments down- Wardly across the path of the sheets when the releasing member 18 is disengaged from the finger 17.

The releasing member is automatically operated by the sheets when two or more are conveyed one upon another. For this purpose the device is provided with a gage, which comprises cooperative callpering members 21 and 22. These calipering members are disposed respectively above and below the path of the sheet, and one of them is adjustable towardand from the other so that the space between them may be determined topermit a single sheet to pass without tripping the abutments 1,5. "The calipering member 21; is. a driven roll, and it is driven by suitable gearing whereby the sheet-err gaging portion is. caused to travel in. the same directionas the sheets.- The details of the gearing are not of special importance,

. and for this reason need not be described.

The upper calipering member 22 is mounted upon a pivot pin 23. The sheet-engaging surface of the member 22 is segmental, and

the operating movement of the membr is a swinging movement about the pivot 28. This movement is transmitted to the re .leasing member 18 by a link 24, arm 25,

rockshaft 26,- arm 27, and link 28.

The member 22 is so weighted that it normally hangs in the position shown by Figs. 1 and 2,, with'the releasing member 18 in position to support the abutments 15. 7

The pivot 23 is mounted in an adjustable support 29, and the support is arranged upon a pivot 30, the pivot 23 being movabletoward and from the path of the sheets in consequence of this arrangement. An adjusting screw 31 isarranged to act upon the support 29 to determine the desired space between the calipering members. The adjusting screw-is arranged in a fixture 32.

In practice. thecalipering members will be adjusted to provide a space slightly more than the thickness of one of the sheets which are-to. befed, but less than the thickness of two sheets- When the calipering members to the upper calipering member 22.

are so spaced, single sheets may pass between them without causing any movement of the member 22; but when two sheets, one upon member 18 from the finger 17 is very slight,-

and the mechanism for causing the release of the. abutments 1s sensitlve 1n action.

VVhen the abutments are thrown into the path of the sheets, the progress of the sheets is arrested, and'when the sheets so arrested are removed from the 'detecting mechanism the latter may be restored to its initial position by lifting the abutments until the finger 17 is above the end of the releasing member. As previously stated, the calipering member 22 is so weighted that it normally seeks the position shown by Figs. 1 and 2, and for this reason the releasing member 18 will be automatically placed in abutmentsupporting position when the abutments are raised as just stated.

I claim:

1. In a sheet feeder, the combination with an endless band conveyer, of calipering means arranged to be operated by .two or.

c/omen of this patent may be obtained for more sheets, one upon another, upon said \conveyer, and means arranged to stop the sheets between the ends of'said conveyer, in consequence of operation of said calipering means. e

2. In a sheet-feeder, movable means for supporting and conveying sheets one at a time, calipering means adapted to be operated by a plurality of sheets one upon another intransit, yielding means adapted normally to stand in the path of the sheets beyond said calipering means, and restraining means connected to said ealipering means for holding said yielding means out of the path of the sheets, said restraining means being adapted to release said yielding means in consequence of operation of said calipering means.

In a sheet feeder, the combination with an endless band conveyer, of ealipering means arranged to be operated by two or more sheets, one upon another, upon said eonveyer, and an abutment arranged to be moved into the path of the'sheets in front of the sheets and between the ends of said conveyer, in consequence of operation of said oalipering means.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

VERNON GARNER Witnesses WALTER P. ABELL, I. W. PnzzETTI.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Yatents. Washington. D. 0. p 

